Chapter 3: Ethical Speaking and Listening
Chapter Summary
Ethical communication provides a foundation for effective public speaking and listening.
Ethical speakers present accurate and balanced information, carefully researching their
topics, using reliable sources, and adhering to copyright laws. Plagiarism is a particularly
pressing ethical problem. By recording the sources for your information, referring to
those sources in your speech, and listing each source in a written bibliography, you'll
avoid plagiarism. Thoroughly preparing for your presentation, using language appropriate
to your audience, and giving your speech in a manner that demonstrates respect for the
audience help create a productive communication climate.
Audience members also have ethical responsibilities. Ethical listeners give speakers
undivided attention, respect diverse perspectives, and listen to the entire speech before
making a final judgment. In addition, both ethical speakers and listeners demonstrate
genuine sensitivity to cultural differences.
Effective listening helps speakers and listeners connect comfortably with each other.
Lack of commitment, jumping to conclusions, becoming distracted, poor note-taking, and
asking inappropriate questions detract from the public speaking experience. When
listeners become fully engaged, they create a meaningful dialogue between speaker and
audience.